{
  "url": "https://havedumptruckwilltravel.com/blog/diy-french-drain-installation-vs-hiring-pros",
  "path": "/blog/diy-french-drain-installation-vs-hiring-pros",
  "title": "DIY French Drain Installation vs. Hiring Pros | Have Dumptruck Will Travel",
  "description": "French drain installation is a relatively simple and inexpensive undertaking to improve drainage. Learn when it's best to hire a pro vs. DIY.",
  "heading": "Pros and Cons of DIY French Drain Installation vs. Hiring Professionals",
  "content": "Pros and Cons of DIY French Drain Installation vs. Hiring Professionals\n\nView Larger Image\n\nInstalling a French drain on a lawn allows rainwater to travel from where it fell to another area of the lawn with better drainage capabilities and access to more sunlight. While it is possible for homeowners to complete the project themselves, they will need to consider several factors to ensure a successful outcome.\n\nEstimate the Amount of Soil and Gravel Needed to Dig\n\nBefore homeowners start digging an opening to install a French drain, they must contact a city administrator to come to the home and mark the spot of any utilities buried underground. City officials might also refer callers to 811, the number for the Before You Dig hotline. Identifying possible underground utilities or gas lines before digging is essential to prevent serious injuries.\n\nCreating an opening for a French drain requires digging a ditch approximately 18 inches deep and 12 inches wide. For every foot dug into the ground, it uncovers a foot and a half cubic feet of soil. Topsoil normally weights about 100 pounds for every cubic foot.\n\nThat means homeowners will move 150 pounds of soil for every 10 feet uncovered. There is always the option of digging a trench by hand or renting a trenching tool by the day. The cost to rent a trenching tool varies by region but averages about $200 per day.\n\nHomeowners need approximately .6 yards of gravel for every 10 feet of drainage uncovered. That amount of gravel usually weighs at least 2,500 pounds and can reach nearly 3,000 pounds. The cost of gravel averages $25 per cubic yard, which is in addition to the cost of delivery. People completing this project themselves also need to determine where to dispose of the soil they dug up to replace with gravel.\n\nWhy Hiring a Professional to Install a French Drain is a Better Idea\n\nThe upside of do-it-yourself French drain installation is that the costs are minimal. In many cases, the whole project should only take a few hours to complete. However, homeowners run the risk of damaging their lawn to the point where a professional needs to repair it.\n\nThose who have never dug a trench or installed a French drain before may find that the project takes all day to complete rather than a few hours. Unfortunately, inexperience with this type of work can also lead to serious injuries.\n\nWhen homeowners hire a foundation or excavating company to do the job, a representative should provide a free written estimate outlining all costs. Most contractors charge a flat fee for materials, parts, and labor. The estimate should also include the cost of filling the trench with topsoil and removing the uncovered soil from the property.\n\nHiring a professional ensures the safe and efficient installation of the new French drain. It also saves people the trouble of renting tools and contacting their city administrator to request marking of underground utilities. Homeowners immediately reap the benefits of a French drain and can relax knowing that an experienced professional installed it correctly.\n\nBy kayvan|November 24th, 2020|Homeowner Tips|Comments Off on Pros and Cons of DIY French Drain Installation vs. Hiring Professionals\n\nShare This Story, Choose Your Platform!\n\nFacebookXRedditLinkedInTumblrPinterestVkEmail\n\nRecent Posts\n\nSpring into Action with Have Dumptruck Will Travel!\n\nYour Go-To Solution for Dirt and Concrete Removal!\n\nUnwanted: How to Remove a Hot Tub or Jacuzzi\n\nDIY Tips for Backyard Drainage Solutions\n\nHow to Excavate & Construct an In-Ground Trampoline\n\nArchives\n\nMarch 2024\n\nDecember 2023\n\nSeptember 2022\n\nNovember 2021\n\nOctober 2021\n\nMarch 2021\n\nNovember 2020\n\nSeptember 2020\n\nAugust 2020\n\nJune 2020\n\nJanuary 2020\n\nSeptember 2019\n\nSeptember 2018\n\nCategories\n\nconcreate removal\n\ndirt removal\n\nHomeowner Tips\n\nUncategorized",
  "word_count": 615
}